(Newser)
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With jury selection beginning at the federal case against a cult-like upstate New York group, TV actress Allison Mack pleaded guilty Monday to charges she manipulated women into becoming sex slaves for the group's spiritual leader, the AP reports. Mack, 36, who is best known for her role as a young Superman's close friend on the series Smallville, wept as she admitted her crimes and apologized to the women who prosecutors say were exploited by Keith Raniere and the purported self-help group called NXIVM. "I believed Keith Raniere's intentions were to help people, and I was wrong," Mack told a judge in federal court in Brooklyn as she pleaded guilty to racketeering charges. After months of reflection since her arrest, "I know I can and will be a better person," Mack said. Her sentencing was set for Sept. 11.

The plea means Mack will avoid going to trial with Raniere, wealthy heiress Clare Bronfman, and another member of Raniere's inner circle, Kathy Russell. All have pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing; opening statements are scheduled for April 29. Other co-defendants have recently sought separate trials and engaged in plea negotiations after new allegations involving an underage girl came to light. Court papers allege NXIVM formed a secret society of women who were branded with Raniere's initials and forced to have sex with him. Defense attorneys have insisted any relationship between Raniere and the alleged victims, including an unidentified actress and other women expected to testify against him at trial, was consensual. On Monday, Mack said that at Raniere's direction, she obtained compromising information and images of two unidentified women—such information was called "collateral" within the group—that she threatened to make public if they didn't perform "so-called acts of love." (Much more on the group here.)

She's scum and she's showing us once again how hypocritical the legal system is. You can get away with sex trafficking as long as you're a woman and there's a man involved you can accuse of taking advantage of you.

CaRedNek

Apr 9, 2019 10:56 AM CDT

Whatever Satan needs to use, to blind the minds of those living on Earth, thinking Man has the answer, to anything ! ! !

Myke Hermann

Apr 9, 2019 2:00 AM CDT

How does luring women to be sexual partners, let alone sex slaves, correspond in any way with thinking the leaders desire was to "help people". You'd have to be a complete idiot to not see it for what it was.